Ajax, ON is a well-kept secret on Ontario’s lakeshore that we’re letting you in on today. Only a little over half an hour from Toronto’s city centre, Ajax is one of the GTA’s finest suburbs and breathtakingly beautiful at that. With all the amenities of a Canadian city, a plethora of parks and spectacular shoreline, and easy access to all the major cities of Canada’s business heartland, Ajax is a perfect city for families and young professionals alike looking for homes for sale in Ontario.
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More About Ajax, ON
To be so close to Toronto, Ajax has yet to grow into a large city of its own. With a population of only 121,000, Ajax can still feel like a small town, with plenty of farmland separating the suburbs from the rest of the GTA metropolises. The city lies right along Lake Ontario’s coastline, but the land bordering the lake itself is kept mostly undeveloped, and is great for evening walks and relaxing on long summer days.
In recent years, more and more young families have been moving to Ajax, and the neighbourhoods are filled with kids playing together, roaming from one backyard to another. Ajax lets other cities in the GTA handle the nightlife and instead focuses on making itself a quiet, peaceful community that goes to bed early and gets up with the sun.
Ajax has always had a hardworking, industrious reputation. It got its start during the second world war as a center for manufacturing, and the town itself is named after a famous British battleship of that era. If you choose to make Ajax your home, you’ll find yourself in an area that values family life balanced with a zeal for professionalism.
Ajax, ON Real Estate
The real estate market in Ajax is reflective of the widespread trends affecting all of the GTA. Home values are up, appreciating at a fantastic rate, and have been since early 2020. In 2021 Ajax saw a 29.3% yearly increase in its home values, and now the average sold price for a single family detached home in Ajax is $1.1 million. Ajax has the fourth-fastest selling market in the GTA, and houses for sale tend to stay on the market for only eight days before they’re sold.
The market is undoubtedly hot in Ajax. Let’s take a closer look at these houses for sale that so many Canadians are clamoring to buy. For the sake of convenience, we’ll split Ajax through the middle, separating north from south. In south Ajax, you’ll find mostly older houses for sale built in the sixties and seventies. These are your typical Canadian bungalows of one storey, with panel sidings and plenty of yard space. The suburbs in the south part of the city follow a naturalistic street plan, you’d find it hard to find a straight line anywhere.
In the north you’ll find newer, two-storey homes for sale which list slightly higher than their southern counterparts. These houses are spaced closer together and feature brick and stone facades, as well as garages.
One thing you won’t see much of in Ajax are condos. Unlike the rest of the GTA, condos haven’t taken off in this lakeshore suburb. By and large Ajax is a detached home residential area, and the closest thing you’ll find to condos are townhomes, which list for around $700,000 to $800,000. If you’re looking for luxury housing, you’re in luck. You can find luxury homes for sale starting at around 2.5 million dollars. Ajax also has lots of residential properties and vacant land for sale, a rarity in the Greater Toronto Area.
Ajax Neighbourhoods
Duffin’s Bay
If you want Lake Ontario just minutes away from your doorstep, this is the neighbourhood for you. With plenty of great schools nearby and the town centre a quick drive away, Duffin’s Bay in South Ajax should be at the forefront of your search for homes for sale in Ajax, ON.
Discovery Bay
Like Duffin’s Bay but greener and closer to city amenities, Discovery Bay is a nice neighbourhood for a mix of urban, suburban, and rural life. The homes for sale here are larger, newer, and closer together than in the south side of the city. Expect most homes in Discovery Bay to have backyard pools, too!
Riverside
How is it that every neighbourhood bearing the name Riverside winds up with a reputation of luxury? Riverside lives up to its title. This is one of the most sought after neighbourhoods in all of Ajax. People take extra pride in their homes here, and you can expect to see well-groomed lawns whenever you go down these streets.
FAQ about Ajax, ON
What are the Best Neighbourhoods in Ajax, ON?
- Best urban neighbourhoods: Midtown Ajax and Downtown Ajax
- Best suburban neighbourhoods: Riverside and Duffin’s Bay
- Best luxury neighbourhoods: Pickering Village and Riverside
- Best neighbourhoods for schools: Duffin’s Bay and Westney Heights
- Best neighbourhood for commuting: Pickering Village
What is the postal code for Ajax, ON?
The top postal codes are L1S, L1T, L1Z
Where is the nearest commercial airport in Ajax, ON?
Toronto Pearson International Airport, about 55 km away.
Living in Ajax, ON
Life in Ajax is detached from the hustle and bustle of Toronto and closely aligned with Lake Ontario. In the summer, Ajacians flock to the lakeshore and soak in the sun on the beaches or walk in the shade of the shoreline. If you tire of the lake, you can explore the wetlands that form a natural border between Ajax and neighbouring Pickering, or roam the open countryside to the north of the city. Ajax is not a place to stay closed in, even in the roughest of winters. Get out and explore your town and all the natural wonders it has to offer.
Schools in Ajax, ON
Schools in Ajax, ON fall under the direction of the Durham District School Board, which operates dozens of schools in Ajax and all of the Durham region. Be sure to study up on the schools in the district you’re thinking about living in because the schools your kids can attend are limited to your district. Here’s a quick look at some schools in Ajax, ON.
Pickering High School
(9-12) 180 Church Street North
Cambridge International Academy
(1-12) 130 Commercial Ave
Vimy Ridge Public School
(K-8) 40 Telford St
Lester B. Pearson Public School
(K-8) 21 Coughlen St
Pine Ridge Secondary School
(K-8) 50 Seggar Ave
Jobs in Ajax, ON
With a city of over 100,000 you can expect to find a diverse array of work, ranging from retail, health care, and business management. What Ajax is really known for is logistics. Warehouse and supply chain management are key elements of Ajax’s economy and form the backbone of local jobs. If you have any experience in these fields, you’ll have no problem finding work.
Transportation in Ajax, ON
Most residents of Ajax commute for work, so expect busy streets during rush hour. Highway 401 is the main thoroughfare for locals looking to move around the GTA and splits the city in half. You can take the 401 into Toronto, or use the GO train which is a simple, straightforward way of getting to the city centre. If you’re looking for some more lighthearted voyages, Lake Ontario is right at your doorstep if you want to get out on a boat and brave the waters of a great lake. If you need to do long distance travel, getting a flight out of Toronto Pearson international Airport is your best bet.
Distances to Major Cities
- 16 km to Oshawa, ON
- 25 km to Toronto, ON
- 69 km to Mississauga, ON
- 219 km to Kingston, ON
- 367 km to Ottawa, ON
Things to Do in Ajax, ON
- Enjoy the lakeshore – If you got it, flaunt it. Ajax competes with Scarborough to see who has the prettiest shoreline, and the competition is close. Any time of the year you can enjoy the blue vista of Lake Ontario in a myriad of parks and boardwalks.
- Go Skiing – Only a 20-minute drive to the north of Ajax, you can ski to your heart’s content all winter long. The Dagmar Ski resort offers fun slopes for skiers of all ages, from seasoned pros to brand-new beginners.
- Shop at the Pickering Town Centre – Whether you’re looking for gifts for the holidays, a birthday, or just looking for something nice for yourself, the Pickering Town Centre has something for you. There’s more than enough shops here for you to explore at your own pace. You can truly shop till you drop here.
- Visit the Greenwood Conservation Area – Just at the northern edge of Ajax, the Greenwood Conservation Area offers residents ten miles of walking trails in a riparian paradise. Come see it in the summer sunshine or under winter snow, you won’t be disappointed.
- See some local art at the Ajax Community Center – All throughout the year the Ajax Community Center displays local art produced by talented residents. It’s well worth making the trip downtown to see what your fellow Ajacians are up to in the art sphere.
- Relax at Paradise Beach – If you need a hint of what this place is all about, re-read the name. Paradise Beach is a perfect place to visit with the family during the summer months. Wade in the waters of Lake Ontario or just sunbathe on the beach; the choice is yours!
- Hang out at The Oshawa Markets – If fresh, homegrown produce is your thing, then you’ll love The Oshawa Markets. Hosting a mixture of farmer’s market fare as well locally made handicrafts, the Oshawa Markets is well worth a trip out of town to see.
- Check out a horse race – That’s right, Ajax has its very own racing track. Ajax Down offers locals the excitement of the Kentucky Derby without having to travel all the way to Churchill Downs.
- Play a few holes at Deer Creek Golf Club. – Deer Creek offers some of the best golf to be found in the GTA. With not one, but two courses, you could golf at Deer Creek once a week for the rest of your life and never get tired of it!
- Try out Axe Throwing – Though we still can’t wrap our heads around how this is now a popular sport, axe throwing is taking off in Ajax as with the rest of Canada. Ajax’s own Backyard Axe Throwing League is a great place to blow off some steam after work and perfect a fun, if somewhat niche, art form.
